Maro Itoje a global star in the making

Such was the reaction of the Scottish crowd at the final whistle in Murrayfield on Sunday you would have thought they had won the Six Nations championship.

Even the realisation their long overdue victory over France had just handed the title to England did nothing to dampen their spirits.

Irish rugby supporters may be feeling a little flat at the moment given the various disappointments experienced at provincial and international level this season but, if anything, they have been spoilt with success on both fronts for over a decade.